HAZLETON - A Hazleton woman charged by Hamburg police for allegedly passing counterfeit money Feb. 13 also is facing federal charges.
According to court records in an online database, the U.S. Secret Service on Tuesday filed charges for uttering counterfeit U.S. Federal Reserve notes and conspiracy against Cindy Batista, 23, of Carleton Avenue, Hazleton.
Although the affidavit that explains the charges is sealed from public view, court records show Batista is accused of committing the offenses Jan. 9 in Luzerne County.
A federal public defender was appointed to represent Batista when she appeared Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Thomas M. Blewitt. Court records state she waived her right to a detention hearing and was ordered to be detained.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. March 13 at the William J. Nealon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Scranton.
Hamburg police charged Batista with forgery and theft by deception, both felonies, and she waived her right to a preliminary hearing on those charges before Magisterial District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose on Monday.
Batista is scheduled for a formal arraignment in Berks County Court at 9 a.m. March 25, court papers state.
Hamburg police allege Batista used 26 counterfeit $100 bills at a Rite Aid pharmacy in the borough Feb. 13. According to police, Batista drove about an hour to Hamburg to use the phony money because businesses in Hazleton were aware that counterfeits were being passed.
Police said she used the counterfeit money to buy $500 worth of money orders and left the business, but was stopped by police a short time later.
The news of counterfeit $100 bills being passed in the Hazleton area prompted several businesses to temporarily stop accepting bills of that denomination.